Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Ministers' Private Offices

Sarah Olney: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 1 February 2024 to Question 11394 on Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Ministers' Private Offices, what the cost of each refurbishment was.

Mark Spencer: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Pets: Imports

Judith Cummins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when his Department plans to publish a summary of the outcome of the consultation entitled Changes to the rules on bringing pets into Great Britain.

Mark Spencer: We are carefully reviewing the feedback gathered from our consultation and wider engagement with stakeholders, and a summary will be published in due course.

Import Controls: Ashford

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the average daily number of documentary checks that will be undertaken at Sevington Border Control Point in the next 12 months; and how many and what proportion of these will (a) be physical checks on (i) imported food and (ii) feed commodities and (b) arrive from the (A) Port of Dover and (B) Channel Tunnel.

Mark Spencer: The formal designation of Sevington can only take place once it has been confirmed that all the requirements of the relevant legislation have been met. Work is ongoing to put everything in place to meet these requirements, and for the designation to take place ahead of the commencement of physical SPS inspections at the end of April. Import volumes at point of entry or PHA level are not in the public domain and cannot be shared.

Pesticides: Regulation

David Mundell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of pesticide regulation by the (a) Health and Safety Executive and (b) Expert Committee on Pesticides.

Mark Spencer: The UK has one of the most robust regulatory systems in the world. Pesticides are only authorised following a thorough scientific risk assessment that concludes all safety standards are met. Pesticides that pose unacceptable risks are not authorised. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are responsible for these authorisations. They also undertake compliance and enforcement activities to ensure that where pesticides are used, they are used safely and in accordance with the law. The role of the Expert Committee on Pesticides is to provide independent scientific advice, views and recommendations where required. The ECP publishes its annual report each year which summarises its work & it delivers expert advice as requested. The latest annual report to be published can be found here.

Fishing Catches: Import Controls

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many (a) documentary checks on, (b) physical checks on, (c) foreign supplier verification checks on and (d) rejections of consignments imported with a catch certificate validated by China were undertaken under the Sea Fishing (Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing) Order 2009 in 2023.

Mark Spencer: This information is not held centrally by the Government.

Import Controls

Dr Neil Hudson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the Border Target Operating Model on biosecurity.

Mark Spencer: The Border Targeting Operating Model (BTOM) successfully delivers a science based dynamic approach to border controls and is designed to change responsively to ensure controls are targeted where risk is greatest. This will provide assurance to our trading partners and the UK consumer that imported food and feed products meet our high safety standards. This approach seeks to bring in critical biosecurity controls as soon as possible, but uses a global risk-based model, data and technology to reduce the burden on businesses wherever possible. Health certification will provide assurance that an official vet or plant health inspector in the exporting country has checked the goods and confirmed that they are free of pests or diseases and comply with GB’s import health requirements. Inspections increase our surveillance capability to intercept non-compliant goods, detect emerging pest or disease threats, and identify any problems with the certification process in exporting countries. Local authority food standards officials have found examples of pork imported from EU countries with widespread African Swine Fever (ASF). Such countries are not allowed to export pork under EU rules due to the biosecurity threat posed by ASF. The controls in the BTOM, specifically the requirement for Export Health Certificates, would have prevented this: an official vet would refuse to certify such a consignment.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Electronic Purchasing Card Solution

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his Department’s transparency data Spending over £500 with an electronic purchasing card solution for September 2023, updated on 20 December 2023, what the purpose was of spending £630 with See Tickets on Other Miscellaneous Expenses.

Mark Spencer: The expenditure of £630 relates to the purchase of 30 tickets to a UK Parliament Multimedia Tour on 9 August 2023. This formed part of a summer internship induction day. The tour gave interns knowledge on the history, heritage and work of UK Parliament today as they begin working for Defra.

Pesticides

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to publish the National Action Plan for the Sustainable Use of Pesticides.

Mark Spencer: We will publish the National Action Plan for the Sustainable Use of Pesticides in due course.

Animal Breeding: Imports

Derek Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the guidance issued by his Department entitled Import live animals and germinal products from the EU to Great Britain on 31 January 2024, whether his Department is taking steps to ensure that the time taken for the new checks to be undertaken at airports after 30 April 2024 does not affect the viability of imported chilled semen for (a) racehorses and (b) other species.

Mark Spencer: Equine germinal products, including equine semen, are classified as ‘high risk’ under the Border Target Operating Model, regardless of country of origin. EU and Rest of World equine germinal products currently require pre-notification and health certification and this will continue to be the case. Currently APHA undertake documentary checks on EU origin germinal products imported into GB, whilst Port Health Authorities conduct documentary and identity checks on Rest of World imports. Our expectation is that PHAs will begin to undertake the required checks (100% documentary & ID checks) on EU origin germinal products in line with the wider TOM implementation milestones for animal products (i.e. starting from 30 April 2024, aside from EU goods imported from the island of Ireland). We are aware that the equine germinal product industry has concerns about the impact of the move of checks to BCPs, particularly relating to the timing of PHA processes for imports of fresh equine semen during the breeding season. There is direct engagement at a working level to understand, and where possible resolve, these concerns.

Animals: Exports

Fleur Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the welfare of animals exported live from the UK.

Mark Spencer: I refer the Honourable Member to the answer I gave on 19th January 2024 (PQ 9278).

Animal Welfare (Electronic Collars) (England) Regulations 2023

Sir Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to bring forward revised Animal Welfare (Electronic Collars) England Regulations 2023; and for what reason those regulations were not brought forward for approval before their proposed commencement date.

Mark Spencer: The Government remains committed to introducing a ban on the use of e-collars. We will pursue new regulations to deliver this commitment on a revised timeline.

Dangerous Dogs

Nadia Whittome: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of extending the neutering deadline for XL bully dogs which are not currently medically fit to undergo a neutering procedure.

Mark Spencer: There are already extended deadlines by which owners must ensure that their XL Bully type dogs have been neutered. Dogs that were older than one year old on 31 January 2024, must be neutered and evidence received by 30 June 2024. Dogs that were younger than one year old on 31 January 2024 must be neutered and evidence received by 31 December 2024. We are considering whether a further extension to this is necessary. We will carefully assess the exemption scheme data on dogs that remain to be neutered to inform our decision.

Import Controls: Disease Control

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of consignments which will be subjected to the Border Target Operation Model sanitary and phyto-sanitary controls in each of the next three years, broken down by each risk category.

Mark Spencer: Please see summary tables below for figures by risk category; these tables show the volume of goods that would be assigned to each category based on April 2021 to March 2022 customs declaration data. To note, whilst the consignments below are in scope for the new TOM risk-based approach, some of the consignments are already in scope for SPS controls and so do not represent the net effect of the TOM bringing consignments into scope for controls. Already in scope items include imports from non-EU countries, live animal imports from the EU, and some plant products. POAO consignments by risk level  Low riskMedium riskHigh riskTotalEU1.4m to 2.4m400k to 1.7mUnder 10k2.8m to 3.0mNon-EU90k to 100kSource: Defra analysis of April 2021 to March 2022 HMRC customs declaration data.Figures may not sum due to rounding. * P&PP consignments by risk level  Article 72 low riskArticle 73Article 72 high riskTotalEU1.4m780k190k2.4mNon-EU160kUnder 10kUnder 10k160kSource: Defra analysis of April 2021 to March 2022 HMRC customs declaration data.Figures may not sum due to rounding. * *All figures are rounded to the nearest 10,000.

Import Controls: Port of Dover

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the cost to the public purse was of the (a) annual lease, (b) daily operating costs, (c) fitting out, (d) security staff, (e) operations staff, (f) equipment, (g) services and amenities and (h) maintenance at Dover SPS Border Control Post in the last 12 months.

Mark Spencer: The Department considers that this information is commercially sensitive and should be withheld.

Import Controls: Port of Dover

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the maximum number of physical checks is that can be undertaken in a 24-hour period at Dover SPS Border Control Post.

Mark Spencer: The Bastion Point Border Control Facility was originally built to be capable of conducting all necessary SPS check on animal products arriving at the Port of Dover across the Short Straits. Since that point, the new Border Target Operating Model has been published which has reduced the volumes of goods that require an inspection on arrival.

Inland Border Facilities: Ashford

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the budget is to (a) retro-fix the site of, (b) bring to operational (i) standards and (ii) capacity and (c) complete works at Sevington Internal Border Facility.

Mark Spencer: The Department considers that this information is commercially sensitive and should be withheld.

Import Controls: Ashford

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the maximum number of physical checks that can be undertaken at the Sevington Products of Animal Origin Border Control Point in a 24-hour period.

Mark Spencer: Estimates of the operational capacity of Sevington have been based on a throughput model that seeks to model the flow of goods into the site based on the volumes, seasonal trends, timetabling of ferries and operational assumptions around the number of bays in use, and the duration of inspections including marshalling time and cleaning. The model does not calculate a maximum daily check but instead identifies potential pinch-points in the throughput of the goods. The model is only considered as a guide given the uncertainties in forecasting the behaviour of a new service.

Import Controls: Ashford

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many port health staff (a) will be required at Sevington inland border facility and (b) are employed by Ashford Border Control.

Mark Spencer: The responsibility for ensuring the appropriate staffing is in place to conduct the necessary sanitary and phytosanitary checks will lie with Ashford Borough Council as the enforcing authority. They are developing their staffing plans for the site.

Import Controls: Ashford

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many and what proportion of port health staff at Ashford Border Control are completing sanitary and phytosanitary checks.

Mark Spencer: The responsibility for ensuring the appropriate staffing is in place to conduct the necessary sanitary and phytosanitary checks will lie with Ashford Borough Council as the statutory enforcing authority. They are developing their staffing plans for the site.

Import Controls: Ashford

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the operating hours each (a) day and (b) week for the products of animal origin border control point in the Sevington Internal Border Facility.

Mark Spencer: The responsibility for the operation of the Sevington Border Control Post, if and when it is designated, will fall to Ashford Borough Council as the statutory enforcing authority. The planned hours of operation are being finalised but it is expected that the facility will accept animal products for inspection 24 hours, seven days a week.

Dogs: Euthanasia

Mark Eastwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to prevent euthanisation of healthy dogs in (a) Dewsbury constituency and (b) the UK.

Mark Spencer: In 2021, we worked closely with the veterinary profession to provide greater assurance that alternatives to euthanasia are explored before a healthy dog is put down. Following these discussions, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons agreed that vets should scan the microchip in these circumstances to check whether anyone else has an interest in the dog who might provide an alternative to euthanasia. This has been included in the guidance underpinning the Code of Professional Conduct. This applies to all veterinary surgeons practising in the United Kingdom.

Electronic Cigarettes

Fleur Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of disposable vapes on (a) rivers, (b) oceans and (c) animals.

Robbie Moore: When littered, disposable vapes can introduce plastic, nicotine salts, heavy metals, lead, mercury, and flammable lithium-ion batteries into the natural environment. These items and substances contaminate waterways and soil, posing a risk to the environment and animal health. Defra is currently undertaking an impact assessment which will outline the environmental harm posed by disposable vapes and the environmental benefits of our upcoming ban on their sale and supply. Defra has also commissioned external research to further understand the environmental harms of disposable vapes, which will be published in due course.

Sewage: Waste Disposal

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many times each water company breached their storm overflow permits in 2023.

Robbie Moore: The Environment Agency will publish the 2023 Event Duration Monitoring data for storm overflows in March 2024. The data for previous years is available here: Event Duration Monitoring - Storm Overflows - Annual Returns - data.gov.uk.

Convention on Biological Diversity

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which members of His Majesty's Government will attend COP16.

Olivia Blake: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which Ministers will attend COP16 to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Rebecca Pow: The UK’s delegation to COP15 of the Convention on Biological Diversity was led by the Environment Secretary, who attended along with Ministers from two other Departments. The details of the delegation for COP16, including Ministerial representation, will be determined closer to the time but will be led by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Convention on Biological Diversity

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his priorities for COP16 are.

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress his Department has made on the agreements made at CBD COP15 in Montreal.

Olivia Blake: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will set out the Government’s priorities for the 2024 Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 16).

Rebecca Pow: The UK played a leading role at COP15 of the Convention on Biological Diversity in securing agreement to a historic package of measures to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. Our priority for COP16 and beyond is to drive global delivery of these agreements both at home and abroad, by working closely with our international partners. We have a number of priorities for COP16. These include supporting a global review of those National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans which will have been published by the time of the COP, in order to assess the extent to which the world is on track to meet the commitments made at COP15; finalising the details of the global mechanism for the sharing of benefits arising from the use of Digital Sequence Information (DSI) on genetic resources; and increasing the mobilisation of resources from all sources to halt and reverse biodiversity loss globally, including through the newly-established Global Biodiversity Framework Fund, to which the UK has already made an initial contribution of £10million.

Flood Control: Local Government and Private Sector

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will publish a list of areas which lack (a) local authority resources and (b) private sector contributions to manage flood risk.

Robbie Moore: The Government is investing a record £5.2 billion between 2021 and 2027 in flood and coastal erosion schemes to better protect communities across England. Local authorities, which deliver some of these schemes, benefit from this investment. Local authorities are also resourced to fulfil their statutory duties and have access to a range of revenue streams including the Local Government Finance Settlement. The local government finance settlement for 2024-25 will make available over £64.7 billion next year, an increase in Core Spending Power of up to £4.5 billion or 7.5% in cash terms on 2023-24. The Government announced an additional £3 million in grant funding for 2024/25 to support local authorities severely impacted by the increase in levies from internal drainage boards. The majority of local government funding is un-ringfenced, recognising that local authorities are best placed to decide how to meet the major service pressures in their local areas. The Government is conducting an assessment of local flood and coastal risk compared to local authority spend. This work is ongoing and is expected to conclude by March 2024. The Government’s £5.2 billion investment is distributed across the country where the risk is highest and the benefits are greatest. Around 60% of flood and coastal erosion projects are fully funded by this investment. Where the full costs of the project are not covered, contributions are needed from partners, the local community and other organisations. This provides a fair and consistent approach for allocating GiA and securing wider benefits where others stand to benefit from a defence scheme.As of June 2023, the current capital programme had already secured £128 million in private sector contributions – more than double the £55 million secured across the whole of the previous six-year programme (2015 to 2021).Government has also provided additional funding to schemes which meet specific objectives, to ensure that they can progress. For example, 23 projects have benefitted from additional government investment, on top of the £5.2 billion programme, through the £170 million Economic Recovery Funding announced in 2020.

Inland Waterways: Pollution

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to pause utility prices for water companies that discharge pollutants into waterways.

Robbie Moore: The Government has been clear that consumer bills should never reward pollution: if water companies do not deliver on their infrastructure commitments, then money is returned to billpayers. For example, in September, Ofwat announced financial penalties for several water companies, totalling £114 million, following underperformance in areas such as water supply interruptions, pollution incidents and customer satisfaction. This money will be rightly returned to customers through reduced water bills in 2024-25. We want to see a step-change in the water sector, and this will require tough decisions for the long term. New infrastructure will need to be paid for, and while water companies can attract private investment, this will also need to come from customer bills.

Responsible Dog Ownership Working Group

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, will the Responsible Dog Ownership working group continue beyond the forthcoming publication of it’s findings.

Mark Spencer: Defra will continue to work with members of the Responsible Dog Ownership working group including police, local authorities and animal welfare organisations to facilitate the recommendations of the taskforce’s report. Conclusions from this work aim to address all aspects of tackling irresponsible dog ownership effectively, from prevention to robust, consistent enforcement, focussing on owners as well as on their dogs.

Trapping: Animal Welfare

Dan Carden: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his animal welfare policies of the use of snares.

Rebecca Pow: The management of predators plays an important role in supporting the recovery of some of our most vulnerable species. An industry-owned code of practice for the use of snares to control foxes in England sets out clear principles for the legal use of snares, using evidence from snare-use research to improve snare deployment and design. We are looking at how snares are regulated as part of our continued drive to maintain the highest animal welfare standards in the world, and working to ensure the regulated use of the most appropriate trap and cull method which causes the least suffering whilst providing the greatest protection to crops, game birds or endangered species.

Darwin Initiative

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding has been provided by Darwin Plus by country in each of the last five years.

Rebecca Pow: Darwin Plus is a competitive UK Government grants scheme that provides funding for environmental projects in the UK Overseas Territories. Since 2019, UK government spending on Darwin Plus has increased year on year to a record high of £6.85m in 22/23, reflecting the rising breadth and quality of applications to our schemes. Projects are selected on their merit at application supported by the advice of independent experts currently sat on the Darwin Plus Advisory Group. Darwin Plus funding per territory over the last five years can be found below: Overseas TerritoryGrant Funding from 2019 - 2024Anguilla£2,702,538.47Bermuda£562,703.60British Antarctic Territory£935,916.75British Indian Ocean Territory£1,233,527.92British Virgin Islands£3,660,593.29Cayman Islands£2,871,387.06Falkland Islands£3,137,812.11Gibraltar£169,956.10Montserrat£2,071,315.89Pitcairn, Henderson, Oeno and Ducie Islands£423,105.00St Helena, Ascension and Tristan Da Cunha£5,918,668.62South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands£4,412,383.75Sovereign Base Area of Akrotiri and Dhekelia£1,176,523.50Turks and Caicos Islands£3,462,690.14

Food: Labelling

Sarah Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the impact of 'Not for EU' labelling requirements on small and medium-sized food producers who (a) export to the European Union and (b) sell within the UK.

Mark Spencer: On 1 October 2023, The UK Government introduced The Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme to simplify movements of retail goods from GB to NI. To use the scheme businesses need to apply ‘Not for EU’ labelling to their goods. As a result, these businesses, including small and medium-sized food producers, benefit from significantly reduced certification requirements. The Government has also launched the £50m Windsor Framework Transitional Labelling Financial Assistance Scheme to support businesses in adjusting to these changes.

Attorney General

Homicide: Aiding and Abetting

Kim Johnson: To ask the Attorney General, with reference to the Code for Crown Prosecutors, how many and what proportion of joint enterprise (a) homicide, and (b) attempted homicide charges in the Crown Prosecution Service Joint Enterprise Pilot 2023 that used the Threshold Test subsequently recorded an application of the Full Code Test.

Robert Courts: The methodology of the Crown Prosecution Service (“CPS”) Joint Enterprise Pilot 2023 (the “Joint Enterprise Pilot”) is set out on the CPS website: Crown Prosecution Service Joint Enterprise Pilot 2023: Data Analysis | The Crown Prosecution Service (cps.gov.uk).The methodology involved the application of a local ‘flag’ to joint enterprise homicide and attempted homicide cases which were then manually reviewed and certain case features counted. The number of cases in which the Threshold Test in the Code for Crown Prosecutors was applied was not counted during the Joint Enterprise Pilot and it is not possible to extract further management information from the local ‘flag’ centrally.Informed by the results of the Joint Enterprise Pilot, the CPS has updated its case management system in order to commence a full national monitoring scheme in the spring. A new mandatory national Joint Enterprise Monitoring Code ‘flag’ will enable the CPS to extract management information from such cases centrally, including whether the Threshold Test was applied when a defendant was charged.The Code for Crown Prosecutors is clear that the Threshold Test may only be applied after a rigorous examination of its five conditions. This ensures that it is only applied when necessary and that cases are not charged prematurely. Any decision to charge under the Threshold Test must be kept under review and the Full Code Test must be applied as soon as practicable.

Homicide: Aiding and Abetting

Kim Johnson: To ask the Attorney General, in how many and what proportion of the joint enterprise (a) homicide and (b) attempted homicide cases in the Crown Prosecution Service Joint Enterprise Pilot 2023 was the threshold test applied.

Robert Courts: The methodology of the Crown Prosecution Service (“CPS”) Joint Enterprise Pilot 2023 (the “Joint Enterprise Pilot”) is set out on the CPS website: Crown Prosecution Service Joint Enterprise Pilot 2023: Data Analysis | The Crown Prosecution Service (cps.gov.uk).The methodology involved the application of a local ‘flag’ to joint enterprise homicide and attempted homicide cases which were then manually reviewed and certain case features counted. The number of cases in which the Threshold Test in the Code for Crown Prosecutors was applied was not counted during the Joint Enterprise Pilot and it is not possible to extract further management information from the local ‘flag’ centrally.Informed by the results of the Joint Enterprise Pilot, the CPS has updated its case management system in order to commence a full national monitoring scheme in the spring. A new mandatory national Joint Enterprise Monitoring Code ‘flag’ will enable the CPS to extract management information from such cases centrally, including whether the Threshold Test was applied when a defendant was charged.

Ministry of Justice

Prisoners on Remand

Chris Elmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average time spent on remand was in each year since 2010.

Edward Argar: Information relating to the time spent on custodial remand is not centrally held by the Ministry of Justice. To obtain the data to answer this question would involve a manual interrogation of court records which would result in a disproportionate cost to the department

Prison Accommodation

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to his Oral Statement of 16 October 2023 on Prison Capacity, Official Report, columns 59-60, when he plans to lay the annual statement of prison capacity before the House of Commons.

Edward Argar: The Department is working at pace to consider the timing and requirements for publishing the first of these statements this year.

Prison Accommodation

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to his Oral Statement of 16 October 2023 on Prison Capacity, Official Report, columns 59-60, what steps has he taken to acquire new land for potential prison sites.

Edward Argar: The Department has taken a number of steps to identify land for potential prison sites. We have commissioned a property agent to search the market for land in the north west and south east, our areas of greatest demand for prison places; officials have started discussions with significant private and public sector landowners and have begun to assess a shortlist of sites for planning risk and strategic and operational fit. In parallel, officials have started strategic conversations with local and regional leaders to identify areas where communities would welcome the economic and employment benefits of a new prison.

Prisoners' Release: Employment

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to encourage newly released prisoners into employment.

Edward Argar: Getting more prison leavers into employment is crucial to this government’s mission to cut crime and make our streets safer by reducing reoffending. We know that employment reduces the chance of reoffending significantly, by up to nine percentage points. That is why I am pleased to say that, in England and Wales, the proportion of prison leavers who were employed six months after their release almost doubled from 14% in April 2021 to over 30% in March 2023.In England and Wales, we have completed recruitment of dedicated Prison Employment Leads, who get prisoners work ready and match them to jobs on release. They work with key partners in the prison including DWP, probation, education and Information Advice and Guidance providers to ensure joined-up working. In custody and in the community, HMPPS Creating Future Opportunities (CFO) provides tailored resettlement services in England, focusing on supporting those furthest from the labour market.The Government will continue to progress this work to help businesses fill the nearly one million vacancies in the UK, while also cutting crime and reducing reoffending.Prisons and Probation services are devolved in Northern Ireland, and employment support is a transferred matter and the responsibility of the Department for Communities.

Prisons: Staff

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of staff working in prisons in England and Wales are not British nationals.

Edward Argar: The quarterly HMPPS workforce statistics publication covers staffing information, and the latest publication covers data up to 30 September 2023. The number and percentage of prison staff by national identity is given in table 1 below. Table 1: Proportion of staff working in Public Sector Prisons1 in England and Wales by national identity2, as at 30 September 2023 National IdentityHeadcountPercentage of known2British29,57094%Non-British1,7746%Not Known/Prefer not to say8,862Total40,206  Notes1. Includes staff working in Youth Custody Service prisons (Cookham Wood, Feltham, Werrington, Wetherby).2. The National Identity field in SOP is a self-declared, optional field. The percentage of staff excludes those where the national identity is not known, either where the field has been left blank or staff have declared that they prefer not to disclose.

Criminal Injuries Compensation

Peter Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of average processing times for claims made to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme.

Laura Farris: The government-funded Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012 (the Scheme) exists to compensate for serious physical or psychological injury attributable to being a direct victim of a crime of violence. It provides an important avenue of redress for such victims and is part of the wider package of general and specialist support available to victims of crime. The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), an Executive Agency of the Ministry of Justice, administers the Scheme and reports on its performance in an Annual Report laid in Parliament. This report includes data on the time it takes for decisions under the scheme to be made. While the CICA publishes this data on the length of time it takes to conclude cases, each case is necessarily considered on its own merits and complex cases can take longer to be determined. We engage regularly with the CICA, including to consider its service levels and how it responds to resource demands. We also work closely with the CICA when considering policy development, and when we consult on potential reforms to the Scheme we consider the implications of any policy changes on the CICA and others in an impact assessment. In addition, the Ministry of Justice reviews the CICA as part of the government’s Public Bodies Review Programme, the most recent of which concluded in February 2023 and concluded that the CICA was in good health.

Home Office

UK Visas and Immigration: Internet

Kirsten Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the accessibility of the UK Visa and Immigration portal for social care workers visas.

Tom Pursglove: The accessibility statement for the social care visa online application can be found through the following link: https://visas-immigration.service.gov.uk/accessibilityStatement.

Visas: Social Services

Kirsten Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance his Department provides social care providers on using the social staff visa application portal.

Tom Pursglove: Once licensed, sponsors are given access to the sponsorship management system (SMS). This online function allows them to carry out day-to-day activities and report any changes to UKVI, such as a change of organisation address. Sponsors can also use SMS to create and assign Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) to workers they wish to sponsor and report changes of circumstances of their sponsored workers.SMS has help text embedded throughout to aid navigation of the system, however, this is not sector specific. In addition, UKVI publish sponsor guidance and SMS user guides which are available on gov.uk to assist sponsors in understanding their sponsor duties and navigating SMS; however, this is not sector specific.

UK Visas and Immigration: Internet

Kirsten Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion of attempts to log into the UK Visas and Immigration portal failed in each of the past six months.

Tom Pursglove: The Home Office only retains the data for 30 days.

Visas: Social Services

Kirsten Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to help social care providers to (a) apply for a sponsorship license for social care staff and (b) complete online applications to sponsor a social care worker visa.

Tom Pursglove: There is a significant amount of information published for sponsors which helps to set out their duties and responsibilities. Further information on the general guidance can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/sponsorship-information-for-employers-and-educators. We have worked with the Department of Health and Social Care and Skills for Care on a range of information to assist those seeking to recruit into adult social care. Information can be found on the Skills for Care website at: https://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/Recruitment-support/International-recruitment/International-recruitment.aspx. In addition to this guidance there is a dedicated team in UKVI who handle most health and care applications who are available to assist with any issues with the sponsorship process.

Asylum: Employment

Deidre Brock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing an asylum right to work pilot on asylum seekers.

Tom Pursglove: Asylum seekers cannot work unless they have had their asylum claim outstanding for 12 months or more, through no fault of their own. Those who apply and are granted permission to work after 12 months are restricted to applying for jobs on the Shortage Occupation List (SOL). This is based on expert advice from the independent Migration Advisory Committee.Our current policy approach on permission to work is longstanding and there are no plans to make changes, other than aligning it with the upcoming Immigration Salary List, which replaces the SOL. It is important that we distinguish between individuals who need protection and those seeking to work here who can apply for a work visa under the Immigration Rules. The Government has always been clear that asylum seekers do not need to make perilous journeys in order to seek employment in the UK.Unrestricted access to employment could act as an incentive for more migrants to choose to come here illegally; leading to further dangerous journeys across the Channel and supporting the business model of evil people smugglers, rather than claim asylum in the first safe country they reach.

Undocumented Migrants: English Channel

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers who arrived on small boats were on bail on 1 February 2024.

Michael Tomlinson: The information requested is not available in a reportable format.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Local Government: EU Countries

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what information his Department holds on the number of local authorities that maintain offices in the EU.

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the number of local authorities that maintain offices in the EU.

Simon Hoare: The information requested is not held centrally.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities: Local Government Finance

Helen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how much and what proportion of his Department's budget was allocated to local councils in each year since 2015.

Simon Hoare: The Government has published details of Local Government Finance Settlement allocations to local authorities since 2015-16.https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65c0d9c963a23d000dc821cf/CSP_information_table_2024-25_Final_Settlement.xlsx

Homelessness

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps he is taking to ensure that (a) public authority and (b) hospital staff are aware of their duty to refer people who are at risk of homelessness to the necessary public services.

Felicity Buchan: Statutory Homelessness Guidance sets out the public authorities which are subject to the duty to refer, including hospitals, and the procedure for referrals.We continue to support local authorities to implement the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 through investing more than £1 billion in the Homelessness Prevention Grant, promoting the duty to refer and increasing public awareness of the prevention duty, providing extra support on personalised housing plans and streamlining data.DLUHC jointly published guidance with DHSC in January 2024: ‘Discharging people at risk of or experiencing homelessness’. This guidance is for staff in care transfer hubs and those involved in planning discharge of patients (including NHS, local authority, housing and other partners) to support with discharging patients at risk of or experiencing homelessness.

Housing First

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department plans to roll out Housing First to areas beyond the existing pilots.

Felicity Buchan: The Government committed to expanding Housing First in its manifesto and we will use the findings of our evaluation of the Housing First pilots, together with our experiences from the three pilots, to inform next steps.The Government has also allocated £32 million for Housing First and housing led projects through the Rough Sleeping Initiative 2022-25, and both the Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme and Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme include providing Housing First accommodation for adults with a history of sleeping rough who require high levels of support.Future funding on homelessness and rough sleeping will be announced in the usual way.

Housing: Insulation

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps his Department is taking to prevent insurers (a) refusing to quote on building insurance cover and (b) charging excessive increases in the premium due to a lack of remediation on buildings under 11 metres which have a B1 fire risk assessment rating.

Lee Rowley: The Government continues to actively encourage the insurance industry to take action where significantly inflated insurance costs are apparent. I regularly meet the sector, and its representatives, to press the case for an industry-led solution on this matter and I hope we will hear further, long-awaited news from the industry shortly on this matter. Specifically on buildings under 11m, it is generally accepted that life safety risk is proportional to the height of buildings.   The risk to life from historical fire safety defects is lower in buildings under 11m, therefore building safety related remediation works are required in a very small number of buildings under 11m. Whilst individual premium rates are ultimately a matter for insurers, it follows that such rates should be proportionate to the risk.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Gambling: Children

Carla Lockhart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an estimate of the number of underage people that use (a) gambling apps and (b) online gambling.

Stuart Andrew: The Gambling Commission’s ‘Young People and Gambling’ report has measured gambling behaviour in children since 2014. The latest edition for 2023 can be found here.

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

Energy: Highlands of Scotland

Drew Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether her Department has made an estimate of the future energy surplus the Scottish Highlands will produce per capita by 2030.

Andrew Bowie: The Department has made no estimate of the potential future energy surplus of the Scottish Highlands. The department’s Energy and Emissions Projections provide an estimate of future UK demand for energy, accounting for existing or near-final policies, and how future demand for electricity might be supplied, but these projections are at national level only.

Renewable Energy: Infrastructure

Drew Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps she is taking to encourage communities to support renewable energy network connection infrastructure in their localities.

Graham Stuart: Community support is critical to increasing the scale and pace of development of the electricity transmission network as we transition to net zero. That is why, in November 2023, the government published its community benefit proposals for communities living near new transmission network infrastructure.This includes publishing guidance this year covering benefits of £200,000/km for overhead lines, £40,000/km for underground cables, and £200,000 per substation. In addition, properties closest to new transmission network infrastructure will receive electricity bill discounts of up to £1,000 per year for 10 years.

Electricity: Costs

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will review the Levelised Cost of Electricity to take account of the (a) full cost of energy and (b) energy return on energy invested.

Andrew Bowie: The Department will soon be publishing updated analysis comparing the cost of electricity generation across renewable and selected non-renewable technologies, reflecting the latest evidence. This will be published by the end of March 2024. The Levelised Cost of Electricity (LCOE) is a widely used metric which provides a simple way to compare costs across technologies. There are alternative metrics, such as the Energy Return on Investment but all metrics have limitations. Some additional factors than for LCOEs, such as timing and location of generation can be considered by enhanced LCOE analysis. Full system costs are evaluated by the Department’s power modelling.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Montserrat: Health Services

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what steps his Department is taking to help improve healthcare provision on Montserrat.

David Rutley: The FCDO is supporting Montserrat to improve healthcare on the island through its £40 million Capital Investment Programme for Resilient Economic Growth over 6 years from 2019 to 2025, which supports strategic infrastructure development, including building a new hospital. Furthermore, the FCDO have funded the procurement of a CT scanner, 3D mammography unit, oxygen generator and a neonatal incubator. The UK Government funded a £1.8 million COVID-19 programme which supplied vaccines, PPE, test kits, specialist healthcare staff, training programmes, in addition to a new laboratory with the ability to test for multiple viruses not just those pandemic-related. The FCDO also support the UK Health Security Agency programme of work to improve local capacity public health.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Montserrat

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he plans to visit Montserrat.

David Rutley: Montserrat is a valued member of the British family and was recently visited by Sir Philip Barton, Permanent-under-Secretary of State at the FCDO. It is long-standing policy not to comment on Ministerial travel. To do so could compromise the integrity of protective security arrangements and affect the safety of the individuals involved.

Xinjiang: Uyghurs

Ruth Jones: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what recent assessment he has made of the potential implications for his Department's policies of the Chinese government's treatment of the Uyghur people in Xinjiang; and what diplomatic steps he has taken in response.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: The UK Government has led international efforts to hold China to account for its human rights violations in Xinjiang. We were the first country to lead a joint statement on China's human rights record in Xinjiang at the UN, and our leadership has sustained pressure on China to change its behaviour. In October 2023, the UK led another joint statement with a record number of 50 signatories on Xinjiang at the UN, demonstrating a significant number of countries are prepared to call China out for its human rights violations. We have also imposed sanctions, provided guidance to businesses, and taken action to tackle forced labour in supply chains. Bilaterally, we consistently raise human rights issues at senior levels with the Chinese authorities; the Foreign Secretary did so in his introductory call with China's Foreign Minister on 5 December.

Western Sahara: Natural Resources

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the use of Western Sahara's natural resources by the occupying power on the indigenous Saharawi people.

David Rutley: We do not consider commercial activity to be illegal in Western Sahara, providing it respects the interests of the Sahrawi people. The UK continues to support the UN-led efforts and the work of Staffan de Mistura as Personal Envoy of the UN-Secretary-Genera to Western Sahara and we continue to encourage constructive engagement with the political process and monitor progress.

Western Sahara: Ceasefires

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what assessment he has made of the potential impact on development in the Maghreb of the breakdown of the ceasefire in Western Sahara.

David Rutley: Officials regularly discuss and consult on Western Sahara and the impact on the region with international partners, MINURSO (United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara), the UN, NGOs, and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), up to and including at Ambassadorial level. We strongly support the work of Staffan de Mistura, Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General, and will continue to encourage constructive engagement with the political process and monitor progress.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Visits Abroad

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what the cost to the public purse of his Department's Envoy for the UK-African Investment Summit 2024 visit to (a) Morocco from 10 to 11, (b) Cameroon from 16 to 17, (c) Ghana from 23 to 24 and (d) Rwanda from 30 to 31 January 2024 was.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: The UK-Africa Investment Summit Envoy's role was to engage with invited governments on Summit preparations and our bilateral trade and investment partnerships. His visits offered important opportunities to explore and test UK plans and ambition with African partners in advance of the Summit. In January, the Envoy undertook four visits to African countries. The cost of these visits was:a) Morocco 10-11 January: £653.37(b) Cameroon 16-17 January: £1,677.71(c) Ghana 23-24 January: £3,198.23(d) Rwanda 29-31 January: £4,713.89The role of the UK-AIS Envoy has been crucial to engaging with African countries on our shared goal of intensifying trade and investment partnerships.

Gaza: Humanitarian Aid

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, pursuant to the Answer of 12 January 2024 to Question 7540 on Gaza: Humanitarian Aid and the Answer of 26 January 2024 to Question 9495 on Gaza: Humanitarian Aid, how many truckloads of UK aid are in Gaza; what recent progress his Department has made on helping to tackle constraints on the number of trucks entering Gaza each day; and what recent estimate he has made of the average daily number of truckloads of humanitarian supplies entering Gaza in the last month.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Foreign Secretary discussed the urgency of getting significantly more aid into Gaza to alleviate the desperate situation there with Prime Minister Netanyahu on 24 January. He reiterated the need for Israel to open more crossing points into Gaza, for Nitzana and Kerem Shalom to be open for longer, and for Israel to support the UN to distribute aid effectively across the whole of Gaza.We have trebled our aid commitment for this financial year and are working closely with partners in international agencies and in the region to increase access. We have supported the United Nations World Food Programme to deliver a new humanitarian land corridor from Jordan into Gaza. 750 tonnes of life-saving food aid arrived in the first delivery in December and 315 tonnes in the second delivery. The UK also played a leading role in securing the passage of Security Council resolution 2720, which set out the urgent demand for expanded humanitarian access.

Israel: Foreign Relations

Chris Law: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will publish details of the discussions between the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs and his Israeli counterpart during his most recent visit to that country.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Foreign Secretary spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Katz in Jerusalem, during his most recent visit to Israel.The Foreign Secretary discussed the urgency of getting significantly more aid into Gaza to alleviate the desperate situation there with Prime Minister Netanyahu. He reiterated the need for Israel to open more crossing points into Gaza, for Nitzana and Kerom Shalom to be open for longer, and for Israel to support the UN to deliver aid effectively across the whole of Gaza.We also want to see Israel take greater care to limit its operations to military targets and avoid harming civilians and destroying home.

Jimmy Lai

Sir Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what assessment he has made on the implications for his policies of the press release of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights entitled, Hong Kong SAR: UN expert warns against admission of evidence, allegedly secured through torture, in Jimmy Lai case, published on 31 January 2024; and when he last made representations to the Hong Kong authorities on the Jimmy Lai case.

Sir Iain Duncan Smith: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what assessment he has made on the implications for his policies of the press release of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights entitled, Hong Kong SAR: UN expert warns against admission of evidence, allegedly secured through torture, in Jimmy Lai case, published on 31 January 2024; and when he last made representations to the Hong Kong authorities on the Jimmy Lai case.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: We are aware of media reports and a submission to the UN Special Rapporteur on Cruel, Inhumane, Degrading Treatment or Punishment alleging mistreatment of Andy Li while he was detained in mainland China. We take all allegations of torture and mistreatment very seriously and are looking into this further. Article 15 of the Convention against Torture, which China has ratified, prohibits the use of statements established to have been made as a result of torture in court proceedings. Diplomats from our Consulate-General are attending Mr Lai's court proceedings as the trial continues. The Foreign Secretary raised Jimmy Lai's case with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on 5 December.

Climate Change: Finance

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, with reference to the press release entitled PM to call for era of action at COP28 climate summit, published on 1 December 2023, how much and what proportion of the £1.6 billion funding for climate finance will be in the form of grants.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: The UK continues to provide the majority of our climate finance through grants. Our most recent external report [https://unfccc.int/documents/628264] showed that over 87 per cent of UK International Climate Finance was delivered through grants. Our expectation is that the high proportion of grant-based climate finance will continue, including for the latest announcements.

Development Aid: Sanitation and Water

Fleur Anderson: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what recent steps his Department is taking to increase the effectiveness of its aid programmes in the context of the Government implementing the sixth sustainable development goal.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: To improve the effectiveness of UK Aid programmes that contribute to Sustainable Development Goal 6, the UK Government has shifted our approach from the direct provision of services to supporting partner governments to strengthen systems, a key theme in the recently published International Development White Paper. Our new WASH Systems for Health programme, mobilising in Bangladesh, Nepal, Malawi, Tanzania, Sierra Leone and Nigeria, contributes to this shift. We also use our convening power on the world stage, for example through chairing sessions at UN Water 2023 or via Sanitation and Water for All, to influence broader sector change.

UNRWA: Finance

Beth Winter: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, with reference to the Oral Statement of the Minister of State of 29 January 2024, on Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Official Report, columns 620-622, if he will publish the dates when (a) his Department and (b) other Government departments had scheduled payments to be made to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) before the announcement of a temporary pause in funding on 27 January 2024.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: Payments have been as per our Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). We are not aware of other UK Government Departments having any scheduled payments for UNRWA.

Jordan: USA

Mr Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what assessment he has made with international counterparts of the extent to which foreign states were involved in the drone attack on the Tower 22 US base in Jordan on 28 January 2024.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: We strongly condemn attacks by Iran-aligned militia groups against US forces. We continue to urge Iran to de-escalate in the region. Our thoughts are with those US personnel who have sustained injuries, as well as their families.

Hamas: Hostage Taking

Nicola Richards: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what steps his Department is taking to help secure the release of Israeli hostages.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Foreign Secretary met the Sharabi and Popplewell families on 16 January to hear about their relatives' horrendous ordeals at the hands of Hamas. The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary also met with hostage families on 21 January.We will continue to do all we can to secure the release of all hostages. We need a humanitarian pause now to allow for the release of hostages. We will continue to do all we can.

Gaza: Israel

Richard Burgon: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he has received legal advice on the implications for his Department's policies of the International Court of Justice’s decision on the request for provisional measures in the case concerning Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel).

Mr Andrew Mitchell: We regularly review advice about Israel's capability and commitment to International Humanitarian Law and we act in accordance with that advice. We respect the role and independence of the International Court of Justice (ICJ); however, we have stated that we have considerable concerns about this case, which is not helpful in the goal of achieving a sustainable ceasefire. Israel has the right to defend itself against Hamas in line with IHL, as we have said from the outset. Our view is that Israel's actions in Gaza cannot be described as a genocide, which is why we thought South Africa's decision to bring the case was wrong and provocative. The Court's call for the immediate release of hostages and the need to get more aid into Gaza is a position we have long advocated. We are clear that an immediate pause is now necessary to get aid in and hostages out, and then we want to build towards a sustainable permanent ceasefire, without a return to the fighting.

Malaysia: Homicide

Martyn Day: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the memorandum from the Action Committee Condemning the Batang Kali Massacre, presented on 12 December 2023.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: We are reviewing the memorandum from the Batang Kali Action Committee and will respond to the Committee in due course.

UK-Africa Investment Summit

Ruth Jones: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, for what reason the UK-African Investment Summit has been postponed.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: The UK-African Investment Summit (UK-AIS), due to take place in April 2024, will now be postponed to a later date owing to scheduling issues in the international calendar. New summit dates will be announced in due course.The UK government is committed to building on the success of the 2020 UK-Africa Investment Summit, which laid the foundations for new partnerships between the UK and African nations based on trade, investment, shared values and mutual interest. This includes by ensuring attendance from governments across the continent, as well as British and African businesses eager to harness the benefits of our trading relationship.

John Williams Ntwali

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, pursuant to the Answer of 16 November 2023 to Question 1078 on Rwanda: Human Rights, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of due process during the investigation into the death of John Williams Ntwali and; whether he is aware of any action taken by the Rwandan authorities since 7 February 2023 to address concerns around due process during that investigation.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: The UK government understands that a police investigation determined that a traffic incident led to the death of John Williams Ntwali. We raised this case with Government of Rwanda and underlined the importance of transparent investigations. The UK remains committed to working with Rwanda to support the development of its civil and political rights, and to address any concerns around the limited space for political opposition and critical voices. We discuss these issues regularly with the Government of Rwanda, both directly and via our High Commission. We are not aware of any further updates to the case but will continue to monitor the situation.

Development Aid

Fleur Anderson: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what recent steps his Department has taken to improve the effectiveness of UK aid programmes in (a) reducing poverty, (b) increasing literacy rates and (c) increasing life expectancies.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: The International Development White Paper sets out the UK's agenda to re-energise progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, including the central aim of eliminating extreme poverty. To this end, the UK aims to spend at least 50 per cent of our bilateral ODA in the Least Developed Countries.The FCDO has developed two new programmes that will measure and assess literacy rates, among other objectives. The Scaling Access and Learning in Education programme will help transform the effectiveness of education spending in low- and lower middle-income countries and improve learning outcomes, including on literacy. The Data for Foundational Learning Programme will help track children's learning outcomes globally; generate more learning data nationally; and ensure these data are used.We are making good progress against the Global Health Framework, which outlines the UK's work on Global Health to support a positive impact on health and wellbeing and thus life expectancy. For example, we announced £5 million of additional funding to TB Alliance to support more effective drug resistant treatment with fewer side effects and £370 million to strengthen global health security at United Nations General Assembly September 2023.Furthermore, the FCDO is committed to improving the effectiveness of all UK aid. FCDO's Programme Operating Framework maximises the impact of aid through consideration of economy, efficiency, effectiveness and equity. Programmes undergo an annual review of effectiveness, using a results framework. These are published to the Development Tracker website (https://devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk), which further supports aid effectiveness by providing information to inform other donors spending decisions.

Tigray: Droughts and Food Supply

Ms Lyn Brown: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he has made an estimate of the number of people at risk of death from (a) hunger and (b) drought in the Tigray region of Ethiopia.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: During my recent visit to Ethiopia, I saw firsthand the seriousness of the humanitarian situation in Tigray. Across northern Ethiopia, including Tigray, El Nino is causing drought that is affecting 4 million people. According to assessments from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, nearly 1.4 million in Tigray will need immediate emergency food assistance because of drought.

Department for Education

Children in Care: North East

Peter Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 31 January 2024 to Question 11541 on Children in Care, what assessment she has made of the reasons for the higher proportion of looked after children per head of population in the North East; and what steps she is taking to remedy those causes.

David Johnston: The number of looked after children across local areas varies for a range of reasons.In February 2023, the department set out the ambitious and bold plans to reform children's social care through 'Stable Homes, Built on Love'.The department’s strategy focuses on six pillars of action to transform children’s social care, including to help families overcome challenges at the earliest stage, keep children safe from significant harm, and make sure children in care have stable loving homes, long-term loving relationships and opportunities for a good life.As part of this, the department is investing over £36 million this Spending Review to deliver a fostering recruitment and retention programme so foster care is available for more children who need it. This includes working with local authorities across the North East to co-design the North East Fostering Pathfinder to develop a foster care recruitment and retention programme of support, which launched in September 2023.

Department for Business and Trade

Small Businesses: Minimum Wage

John McNally: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether her Department is taking steps with Cabinet colleagues to help support small employers with increases in the national minimum wage.

Kevin Hollinrake: The Government will be undertaking an extensive communications campaign to ensure businesses are informed and ready for the April 2024 upratings. More broadly, the Government has regular engagement with key stakeholders at ministerial and official level including with the Federation of Small Business. The Government provides extensive business support measures, with over 40 offers to help all types of businesses. The Government has announced a business rates package worth £4.3 billion, and a new Energy Bills Discount Scheme, to help businesses with their bills. Businesses can also access support via the Business Support Helpline, Gov.uk, and through our network of local Growth Hubs across England.

Apprentices: Training

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how much and what proportion of apprenticeship levy funds her Department has spent on training in each of the last three years.

Greg Hands: We are unable to provide the information requested as it is not held in the Department. The apprenticeship levy is held by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

Department for Business and Trade: Ministers' Private Offices

Sarah Olney: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether any refurbishments have been made to ministerial offices in her Department in each of the last two years.

Greg Hands: All facilities management services, including refurbishments, are carried out on behalf of the Department for Business and Trade, by the Government Property Agency (GPA).The GPA have confirmed that they have not undertaken any refurbishment work to Ministers offices in Old Admiralty Building in the last two years.

Department for Business and Trade: Ministerial Boxes

Sarah Olney: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many ministerial red boxes belonging to her Department have been reported (a) lost and (b) stolen in each of the last three years.

Greg Hands: 202120222023Lost000Stolen000

Treasury

Illicit Tobacco Taskforce: Police

Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of including representatives of the police on the Illicit Tobacco Taskforce.

Gareth Davies: Although HMRC works with the police where appropriate, it is the lead law enforcement agency on tobacco fraud. HMRC has its own powers to conduct criminal investigations, make arrests and seek prosecution (via the Crown Prosecution Service).The initial members of the taskforce will play a lead role in tackling tobacco fraud, but will also work with all law enforcement and intelligence agencies where appropriate. As the taskforce develops, the Government will regularly review the need to bring in other partners.

Income Tax: Tax Allowances

John McDonnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to lift the freeze on personal tax allowance.

Nigel Huddleston: The Government is committed to keeping taxes low to support people to keep more of what they earn. However, the Government must also ensure the UK’s economic stability and provide confidence in the commitment to fiscal discipline. The Chancellor has made clear that the UK’s public finances must be on a sustainable path into the medium term.

Tax Avoidance and Tax Evasion

Neil O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much revenue the Government has raised through tackling tax avoidance, evasion and non-compliance since 2010.

Nigel Huddleston: Every year, HMRC measures the impact of its activity to tackle tax avoidance, evasion and non-compliance through its performance measure of compliance yield. Compliance yield is HMRC’s term for money that would have been lost to the Exchequer if not for our compliance work. This is published each year in HMRC’s Annual Report and Accounts. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmrcs-annual-report-and-accounts Compliance yield since 2010 is as follows: YearCompliance yield2023-24 (to Q3)£24,026m2022-23£34,031m2021-22£30,792m2020-21£30,450m2019-20£36,948m2018-19£34,070m2017-18£30,292m2016-17£28,855m2015-16£26,607m2014-15£26,558m2013-14£23,926m2012-13£20,722m2011-12£18,627m2010-11£13,900m More about the different components that are included in the reported amount can be found in the HMRC Compliance Yield: technical note, that is published each year alongside the Annual Reports and Accounts.

Electric Vehicles: Charging Points

Vicky Ford: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much tax revenue is accrued from VAT on public charge points.

Vicky Ford: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much tax revenue is accrued from VAT on public charge points in residential areas.

Nigel Huddleston: The information is not available. HM Revenue and Customs does not hold information on VAT revenue from specific products or services, including VAT on public electric vehicle charging points. This is because businesses are not required to provide figures at a product level within their VAT returns, as this would impose an excessive administrative burden.

Employee Ownership

Mr Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to reduce the Share Incentive Plan holding period.

Nigel Huddleston: The Government keeps all tax reliefs, including the Share Incentive Plan (SIP), under review. In June 2023, the Government published a call for evidence on SIP and the other non-discretionary share scheme, Save As You Earn. The government is carefully considering the responses and evidence submitted and will respond in due course. Any tax policy changes would be announced at a fiscal event in the usual way.

Horizon IT System: Compensation

Damien Moore: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of ensuring that the Horizon compensation scheme is tax free.

Nigel Huddleston: The Government is working with the Post Office to ensure all victims of the Horizon IT Scandal receive full and fair financial redress.The Government has already granted tax exemptions for payments related to the Overturned Convictions (OC) and Group Litigation Order (GLO) compensation schemes.Compensation payments for the Horizon Shortfall Scheme (HSS) are subject to tax. However, to ensure postmasters get the full financial redress they deserve, the Government announced on 19 June 2023 a tax-exempt top-up payment for HSS postmasters to ensure that the underlying amount they receive is not unduly reduced by tax. Elements specifically for the shortfalls that were repaid, or distress that was caused, are not taxable

North Sea Oil: Taxation

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the estimated tax receipts will be from (a) North Sea oil and (b) North Sea oil landed via the Forties pipeline on an annual basis from 2024 to 2030.

Nigel Huddleston: The Office for Budget Responsibility’s most recent forecast of tax revenues from the oil and gas sector was published at Autumn Statement 2023 in the Economic and Fiscal Outlook November 2023. It can be found at: https://obr.uk/docs/dlm_uploads/E03004355_November-Economic-and-Fiscal-Outlook_Web-Accessible.pdfThe forecast does not give a breakdown by field or project to protect taxpayer confidentiality

Hospitality Industry: VAT

Claire Hanna: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of reducing VAT for the hospitality industry.

Nigel Huddleston: Since the start of the pandemic, over £37 billion has been provided to the tourism, leisure and hospitality sectors in the form of grants, loans and tax breaks.The Government announced a package of business rates support at Autumn Statement 2022 which means businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors, including pubs, will receive a tax cut worth over £2 billion in 2023-24. The UK also has a higher VAT registration threshold than any EU Member State and the second highest in the OECD, which keeps most businesses out of the VAT system altogether.VAT is the UK's third largest tax forecast to raise £161 billion in 2023/24, helping to fund key spending priorities such as important public services, including the NHS, education and defence. The previous VAT relief for tourism and hospitality cost over £8 billion and reintroducing it would come at a significant further cost.

Personal Care Services: Taxation

John McNally: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many disguised employment enforcement actions have been taken by HMRC against hairdressing salons in the last 12 months.

Nigel Huddleston: The specific data requested is not available as HMRC systems do not segment data in away that would allow the required analysis. As such this information would only be available at disproportionate cost.In addition, HMRC does not disclose data that could prejudice the assessment or collection of tax.More generally, HMRC does however publish some customer compliance related information as part of the annually published report and accounts, which also includes data around Compliance activity.

Alcoholic Drinks: Consumer Price Index

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the consumer price index rate for alcoholic drinks.

Gareth Davies: Consumer Price Inflation is calculated by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The ONS is the independent producer of official statistics and the recognised national statistical institute of the UK.

Alcoholic Drinks and Smoking: Excise Duties

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will raise duty on (a) tobacco products, (b) vapes and (c) alcohol in the forthcoming Budget.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will introduce hypothecated taxes for (a) smoking products, (b) vaping products and (c) alcohol to pay for health services related to those products.

Gareth Davies: The Government already has duties in place on tobacco and alcohol which help to fund important public services, including the NHS, education and defence.The Government has also delivered on its commitment to review the outdated and complex alcohol duty system and introduced the biggest reform of alcohol duties for 140 years. As of 1 August 2023, all alcohol is now taxed by strength, putting public health at the heart of alcohol duty. This is helping to target problem drinking by taxing products associated with alcohol-related harm at a higher rate of duty.With regard to vaping, the UK Government thinks there is a strong case to take action to reduce the affordability of vapes and is continuing to consider options, including a new duty, to achieve this.The Government keeps all taxes under review as part of the tax policy making cycle and Budget process.

Alcoholic Drinks: Excise Duties

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the impact of changes to alcohol duty implemented in August 2023 on tax receipts.

Gareth Davies: The Government publishes tax information and impact notes for tax policy changes when the policy is final or near final. The summary of impacts from the changes to alcohol duty at Spring Budget 2023 can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/changes-to-alcohol-duty-rates/alcohol-duty-rate-changesThe Government is closely monitoring the impact of the recent reforms and will evaluate the impact of the new rates and structures three years after the changes took effect on 1 August 2023. This will allow time to understand the impacts on the alcohol market, and for HMRC to gather useful and accurate data with which to evaluate the effects of the reform.

Department for Transport

Electric Vehicles: Charging Points

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many electric vehicle charge-points have been installed as part of the Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant as of 5 February 2024.

Anthony Browne: The Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant (EVCG) scheme provides support for those who own and live in a flat or rent any residential property (including shared ownership). Grants of up to £350 per chargepoint are available for eligible applicants to help with the costs of purchase and installation. As of 1st July 2023, the EVCG has funded the installation of 3,433 domestic sockets since the scheme was launched in April 2022. Previous domestic grant schemes funded by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme and Domestic Recharging Scheme) have delivered 380,555 domestic charging devices since 2013.

UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the (a) annual operational budget and (b) full-time equivalent staffing is for the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions as at 5 February 2024.

Guy Opperman: The annual operating budget for the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions is £800,000. The Full Time Equivalent staff numbers are 8.7 for the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions.

Shipping: Employment and Training

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps he has taken to support (a) training and (b) employment for UK-resident seafarers.

Guy Opperman: DfT remains committed to future-proofing the training and employment of UK-based seafarers. Our work includes the ongoing delivery of the Cadet Review recommendations, a Ratings Review which considered the barriers, opportunities, and growth areas for UK ratings, support for the Maritime Training (SMarT) programme and most notably the Seafarer Protections Nine-Point Plan to boost and reform seafarer protections and welfare. As part of the plan, we have delivered the Seafarers’ Wages Act to protects those working on ships operating a regular international service to/from the UK from being paid less than the National Minimum Wage while in UK territorial waters. We launched the Seafarers’ Charter on 24 July 2023 which sets higher standards for working conditions than international minimum.

Fishing Vessels: Surveillance

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 2 February 2024 to Question 12083 on Fishing Vessels: Surveillance, what the cost was of aviation undertaken by (a) Maritime and Coastguard Agency and (b) DWF lawyers (i) in the preparation of these cases and (ii) for other associated reasons in 2023.

Guy Opperman: Flights operate to support all areas of MCA business including Search and Rescue, counter pollution, and law enforcement/assurance, and the purpose of these flights is not exclusive to the PPE regulations. It is therefore not possible to provide a breakdown specifically related to this issue. DWF lawyers do not undertake flights for these purposes.

Roads: Hedgehogs

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he is taking steps to help reduce hedgehog casualties on roads.

Guy Opperman: The Department recently delivered an authorisation to all local authorities to make it easier for them to install small animal warning signs. The purpose of this sign is primarily to improve road safety, but it may also help to reduce hedgehog and other small animal casualties on the road.

Parking: Pedestrian Areas

Peter Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when his Department plans to publish the response on the consultation on Pavement parking: options for change.

Guy Opperman: The Department has been considering all the views expressed in response to our consultation, and we are currently working through the policy options and the possible legislative opportunities for delivering them. Following conclusion of this process, we will publish our formal response. The formal consultation response will be available to view at: www.gov.uk/government/consultations/managing-pavement-parking.

Motor Vehicles: Lighting

Dr Luke Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of progress on the implementation of the [a] headlamp aiming criteria and [b] requirements for mandatory automatic headlamp levelling agreed by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe’s road vehicle lighting expert group in April 2023.

Guy Opperman: Progress is being made at the United Nations to change the relevant regulations to introduce revised headlamp aiming criteria and mandatory headlamp levelling. The administrative process and transitional provisions permit sufficient time for vehicle manufacturers to redesign their products and adapt the manufacturing process to ensure conformity with the tighter tolerances, and is expected to come into effect in September 2027.

Large Goods Vehicles

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the trial of longer semi-trailers (LSTs) will end; how soon guidance on post trial operation for hauliers will be amended; and what timescale will be given to hauliers to allow them to prepare for implementation of post trial operations.

Guy Opperman: The trial of longer semi-trailers has closed to new entrants. This is further to regulations allowing the operation of LSTs post-trial which came into force on 31 May 2023. Guidance was published on 30 May 2023 and updated on 14 November 2023. For operators in the trial, the trial ends on 29 February 2024, having been extended from 30 November 2023. Advice continues to be available for hauliers on the trial preparing to implement post-trial operations.

Ministry of Defence

Ministry of Defence: Procurement

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to Q111 of the oral evidence given by David Williams to the Public Accounts Committee on 22 January 2024, HC 451, how many Government Major Projects Portfolio review meetings took place in 2023.

James Cartlidge: A Portfolio Review of all Defence programmes contained within the Government Major Projects Portfolio is held at the end of each financial quarter. As such there were four whole of portfolio reviews in 2023. I chaired the Portfolio Review for the first time in November 2023 (quarter 2 of financial year 2023-24) and I expect to chair the quarter 3 review later this month. Such reviews are in addition to routine individual programme reviews, and assurance reviews undertaken by the Infrastructure and Projects Authority and the Department's Defence Major Programmes Portfolio Sponsor Group.

Defence Suppliers Forum

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page six of the Defence Suppliers' Forum publication entitled Collaboration Charter, published on 22 November 2023, following which operations has in-service feedback been shared with industry partners since the publication of that charter.

James Cartlidge: The Collaboration Charter was only signed in November 2023 and with Industry we are working through the implementation plan. We have made progress already by establishing classified study days over the last 18 months, including one on Ukraine lessons, and by inviting industry to participate this year in our Planned Force Testing event for the first time. We have further study days planned on 22 February 2024 and 12 June 2024 and roughly every quarter thereafter where we will jointly share operational lessons and future challenges.

Haythornthwaite Review of Armed Forces Incentivisation

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 29 January 2024 to Question 10992 on Haythornthwaite Review of Armed Forces Incentivisation, if he will detail how the £9.2 million was spent.

Dr Andrew Murrison: The specific information requested is commercial in confidence so cannot be provided at this time.

Israel: Armed Forces

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Israeli armed forces personnel are in the UK.

James Heappey: Israel is represented by Armed Forces personnel in its Embassy in the UK, and as participants in UK defence-led training courses. There are currently six Israeli Armed Forces officers posted in the UK.

Type 26 Frigates

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the planned delivery dates are for (a) HMS Sheffield, (b) HMS Newcastle, (c) HMS Edinburgh and (d) HMS London.

James Cartlidge: The Initial Operating Capability for the Type 26 Class is forecast to be October 2028. All ships are expected to enter service between 2028 and 2035.To avoid compromising operational security, the Ministry of Defence does not routinely disclose individual out of service dates or specific delivery or in-service dates for warships to avoid revealing elements of the Fleet's long-term schedule. However, the Royal Navy continues to ensure that it has sufficient assets available to deliver operational outputs.

Aircraft Carriers: Standards

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the readiness of the UK Carrier Strike Group; and what steps he has taken to improve that readiness.

James Heappey: The UK Carrier Strike Group remains ready to respond to the evolving global threat picture as required. The UK continues to meet its operational commitments at home and abroad.

Aircraft Carriers

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has taken steps to help increase the lethality of Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers.

James Heappey: Queen Elizabeth Class (QEC) Carriers are designed to embark and operate fixed wing and rotary wing assets that are able to conduct offensive and defensive roles. Additionally, the QEC Carriers are complemented by other platforms within a task force deployment that bring a range of additional offensive capabilities. Operational planning ensures that any deployment has the offensive capabilities it needs to deliver its mission. A range of programmes across Defence will enhance the lethality of a QEC-led task group going forward and ensure the capability remains credible in the future.

HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Queen Elizabeth

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the operational future of the (a) HMS Prince of Wales and (b) HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier.

James Heappey: The purpose of HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales is to provide the UK a Carrier Strike Group (CSG) capability. A CSG is a secure, versatile, agile and survivable, well-found sovereign operating base that exerts global influence through power projection, which, enabled by sea control and with minimal risk, delivers strike warfare against targets ashore. On current plans the out of service date for the Queen Elizabeth Class carriers is 2069.

Armed Forces: Uniforms

Kirsten Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his Department's policy is on the import of bearskin from Canada for use as hats.

James Cartlidge: The Ministry of Defence only purchases bearskin ceremonial caps made from pelts sourced from Canada which are:Legally imported into the UK by our suppliers and in accordance with all import controls.By-products of legal and licensed hunts authorised by each individual Canadian Province and Territory.

Military Aircraft: Helicopters

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) original and (b) current in service date is for the New Medium Helicopter.

James Cartlidge: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 27 April 2023 to Question 182236 to the right hon. Member for North Durham (Mr Kevan Jones).Military Aircraft: Helicopters (docx, 26.6KB)

HMS Richmond

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Royal Navy’s press release of 9 January 2024, entitled HMS Richmond heads to Gulf to support Diamond and Lancaster safeguard shipping, when he plans HMS Richmond will arrive on station.

James Heappey: The Department does not normally comment on deployments due to operational sensitivity, however in this case, as announced by the Secretary of State for Defence, the Department can confirm that HMS RICHMOND arrived on 5 February 2024 to replace HMS DIAMOND. This follows HMS DIAMOND’s service on operations defending shipping against continued Houthi attacks. HMS RICHMOND now takes on the mantle, safeguarding shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden alongside other Royal Navy, UK & NATO Partners, as part of the UK’s enduring commitment to ensuring Freedom of Navigation, and maintaining security of global shipping lanes.

Ministry of Defence: Procurement

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to Q123 of the oral evidence by David Williams to the Committee of Public Accounts on 22 January 2024, HC 451, what the length is of the contract his Department has agreed with Serco.

James Cartlidge: The Department is constrained in its ability to discuss contracts in depth due to the inherent commercial sensitivity, however, we can confirm that we do have a contract with Serco for "The Provision of Aircraft Engineering Support and Airfield Services at Royal Naval Air Stations (RNAS) Yeovilton and Culdrose". This was awarded on 1 July 2020 and is due to expire on 31 March 2026. This is the only contract the Department holds with Serco, although Serco also seconds employees to work with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary to obtain specialist skills where there is a business need to do so. This is not governed by a contract.

Ministry of Defence: Procurement

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to Q122 of the oral evidence by David Williams to the Committee of Public Accounts on 22 January 2024, HC 451, what support senior responsible owners are receiving from (a) programme directors and (b) Defence Equipment and Support.

James Cartlidge: The Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) is supported by a Programme Director who is accountable to the SRO. The Programme Director has delegated responsibility for the day-to-day management of the programme to deliver the desired outcomes and outputs and realise the required benefits, within agreed time, cost and quality constraints. This includes establishing the programme governance framework and ensuring the team is resourced with suitably qualified and experienced people throughout the programme lifecycle.As one of MOD's Enabling Organisations, Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) provides delivery services to SROs for equipment procurement and through life support related matters. DE&S Delivery Teams act as the Contracting Authority with Industry to deliver the SRO's programme, providing expertise in many fields including Engineering, Safety, Project Management, Commercial, Finance and In-Service Support.

Ministry of Defence: Procurement

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to Q116 of the oral evidence by Andy Start to the Committee of Public Accounts on 22 January 2024, HC 451, what recent discussions he has had with industry stakeholders on investments in munitions.

James Cartlidge: The Secretary of State for Defence has regular meetings with defence industry representatives to discuss investments in munitions, amongst other topics. Of particular note in this respect is his role as co-Chair of the Defence Suppliers Forum (DSF), the primary MOD-industry engagement mechanism for discussion on strategic topics.

Ministry of Defence: Procurement

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to Q116 of the oral evidence by Andy Start to the Committee of Public Accounts on 22 January 2024, HC 451, what the budget for Project Hirst has been in each financial year since its establishment.

James Cartlidge: Task Force HIRST was set up in December 2023 to develop a new strategy that will build a sustained defence industrial partnership between the UK and Ukraine. The funding allocation is yet to be determined. Task Force HIRST activity to date has been funded from existing budgets for support to Ukraine, as the activity is complimentary to the objectives of those initiatives.

Ministry of Defence: Procurement

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to Q111 of the oral evidence given by David Williams to the Public Accounts Committee on 22 January 2024, HC 451, what the programme of project review meetings led by non-executive directors at Defence Equipment and Support covers.

James Cartlidge: The Programme Review Committee (PRC) reviews the status, progress and management of critical programmes relating to the effective delivery of the Equipment Programme (EP) by DE&S. It focuses on areas that contribute to project performance and monitors initiatives designed to improve delivery. It monitors and reviews Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP) programmes and provides direction and guidance on how to conduct further assurance reviews where particular concerns arise. The PRC also provides early strategic advice to new programmes and advises on programme delivery improvement activities.

Defence Suppliers Forum

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 8.5 on page 6 of the Defence Suppliers' Forum publication entitled Collaboration Charter, published on 22 November 2023, when he next plans to review collaborative working.

James Cartlidge: There will be an annual review of how well we are delivering on the Collaboration Charter aims. The first of which will be at the Autumn 2024 Joint Industry Study Day.

Defence Suppliers Forum

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 8.3 on page 6 of the Defence Suppliers' Forum publication entitled Collaboration Charter, published on 22 November 2023, how many people from each of the companies listed as a signatory of the charter have received security clearance from his Department as of 1 February 2024.

James Cartlidge: The Ministry of Defence does not hold the information centrally. All industry participants at collaborative events and who will have access to the future collaborative system will have the required security clearances to access that information.

Defence Suppliers Forum

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 7.5 of the Defence Suppliers' Forum publication entitled Collaboration Charter, published on 22 November 2023, whether data retention settings are in place to save messages from the instant messaging platform on the new system.

James Cartlidge: We are currently working on a collaboration system that meets the requirements set down in the Charter including instant messaging. We aim to deliver this via an iterative approach later this calendar year and evolve it thereafter to meet user needs.

Defence Suppliers Forum

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 7.4 of the Defence Suppliers' Forum publication entitled Collaboration Charter, published on 22 November 2023, what recent estimate he has made of when the new system to standardise the ability to exchange information will be completed.

James Cartlidge: We are currently working on a collaboration system that meets the requirements set down in the Charter, we aim to deliver this via an iterative approach later this calendar year.

Defence Suppliers Forum

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 7.3 of the Defence Suppliers' Forum publication entitled Collaboration Charter, published on 22 November 2023, what bespoke engagements have taken place since the establishment of the charter.

James Cartlidge: Since it was signed in November 2023 there have been numerous engagements between MOD and Industry that will be delivering the intent of the Collaboration Charter. The specific joint industry study days sighted in the Charter are planned for 22 February 2024 and 12 June 2024 and approximately every quarter from then on.

Aircraft Carriers: Military Aircraft

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy o the ability of the UK to field a wholly sovereign Carrier Strike Group.

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the operational independence of the UK Carrier Strike Group.

James Heappey: The composition and size of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) deployments are tailored to meet the operational requirement and all options are continuously reviewed to ensure optimum Royal Navy output. A UK Carrier Strike Group can routinely deploy and operate with allies and partners, including those from Joint Expeditionary Force and NATO. Regardless of any integration of international escorts and aircraft during a deployment, we will always retain a sovereign capability giving us the ability to operate the UK Carrier Strike Group in an independent sovereign manner.

Armed Forces: Asthma

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people were rejected from joining the Armed Forces due to asthma in each year since 2010.

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people were rejected from joining the Armed Forces due to dermatitis in each year since 2010.

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people were rejected from joining the Armed Forces due to (a) Raynaud’s phenomenon and (b) vasospastic disease in each year since 2010.

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people were rejected from joining the Armed Forces due to high blood pressure in each year since 2010.

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people were rejected from joining the Armed Forces due to (a) anaphylaxis and (b) allergies in each year since 2010.

Dr Andrew Murrison: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Red Sea: HMS Diamond

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many aerial threats has HMS Diamond shot down since arriving in the Red Sea.

James Heappey: Since her arrival at the Red Sea, HMS Diamond has engaged and shot down nine aerial threats in self-defence.

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

ICT: Employment

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to help increase the number of potential employees with sufficient (a) software and (b) data skills in the labour market.

Saqib Bhatti: The government is investing a total of £3.8bn in skills in England by 2024-25 and at the most recent SR we quadrupled the scale of free Skills Bootcamps in digital skills, including software and data skills. My department recognises that Digital Skills shortages cannot be tackled by government alone, which is why we established the Digital Skills Council in 2022. Government offers a range of free in digital skills, including software and data skills. DSIT is taking proactive steps to address the distinct skills needs of our priority technology sectors. For example, through the £30 million AI and Data Science Conversion Course programme.

Department for Work and Pensions

Children: Maintenance

Beth Winter: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his planned timetable is to respond to his Department's consultation entitled Child Maintenance: Accelerating Enforcement.

Paul Maynard: The Child Maintenance “Accelerating Enforcement” consultation concluded on 24 November 2023, the Government is carefully considering the feedback and a response will be published shortly.

Child Maintenance Service

Beth Winter: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the (a) shortest, (b) median and (c) longest waiting times for a child maintenance service liability order were in each of the last five years.

Paul Maynard: The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) continues to take rigorous action to collect maintenance, combining robust negotiation activity with the highly effective use of its extensive range of Enforcement Powers. This approach is driven by the Payment Compliance strategy, increasing CMS compliance influencing activities to tackle non-paying cases and challenge non-compliant behaviours.We move cases swiftly to Legal Enforcement, securing a Liability Order for 11k cases in the courts, in 2023.CMS does not measure a) shortest, (b) median waiting times to secure a Liability Order but does measure an average of (c) longest. The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost. CMS applies a Continuous Improvement focus to the Enforcement strategy and processes. The planned introduction of the Administrative Liability Order in 2024 will remove the need to apply to the courts and will reduce the average time of 22 weeks to secure a Liability Order to 6 weeks.The published statistics below provides data, excluding waiting times, to September 2023: Section 9 Enforcement and National tables 7.1.Child Maintenance Service statistics: data to September 2023 - GOV.UK(www.gov.uk)

Household Support Fund

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had with local authorities on continuation of the Household Support Fund in 2024-25.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has made an estimate of the potential financial impact on public services of the discontinuation of the Household Support Fund.

Jo Churchill: The current Household Support Fund runs from April 2023 until the end of March 2024, and the government continues to keep all its existing programmes under review in the usual way.

Department of Health and Social Care

Genito-urinary Medicine: Staff

Florence Eshalomi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many staff worked in sexual health services in (a) 2017 and (b) 2023.

Florence Eshalomi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many NHS sexual health consultants were there in England in (a) 2017 and (b) 2023.

Andrew Stephenson: The Department does not hold information about the total number of staff delivering sexual health services in the National Health Service. However, the table below shows the number of full-time equivalent consultants working in sexual health specialties in NHS trusts and other core organisations in England, as of October 2017 and October 2023:SpecialtyOctober 2017October 2023Consultants Working in Community Sexual and Reproductive Health83135Consultants Working in Genito-Urinary Medicine268241Source: Data is drawn from the monthly NHS workforce statistics published by NHS England.Notes: Data excludes staff directly employed by general practitioner surgeries, local authorities, and other providers such as community interest companies and private providers. This is relevant as local authorities are responsible for commissioning most sexual health services and some will be commissioned from bodies outside of NHS trusts, of which the Department holds no staffing information.

Cannabis: Medical Treatments

Sarah Dyke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress she has made with (a) regulatory, (b) research and (c) NHS partners on establishing clinical trials to test the (i) safety and (ii) efficacy of medical cannabis products.

Andrew Stephenson: The Department, via the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), is developing a programme of two randomised controlled trials to test the safety and efficacy of medicinal cannabis products to treat epilepsy in adults and children. The trials will start as soon as possible, and the results will be published once the trials have completed and the findings peer reviewed. Furthermore, the Government continues to encourage manufacturers to invest in research and has highlighted that public funding is available for high quality applications. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and the NIHR can provide applicants with scientific and research advice.

Sleep Apnoea: Medical Equipment

Fleur Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the safety of Philips CPAP machines in the NHS.

Andrew Stephenson: The Medicines and Heathcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) issued a National Patient Safety Alert to hospital trusts in response to two Field Safety Notices issued by Philips Respironics, regarding the risk of patient harm from Philips Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines in June 2021.This was due to degradation of the sound abatement foam in the CPAP Dreamstation devices. This led to a subsequent repair and replacement programme for all affected devices and their accessories. The progress of this programme is being monitored by the MHRA.The MHRA conducted a risk benefit analysis to determine whether these CPAP devices should continue to be used while awaiting repair or replacement. The conclusion of this analysis was that, except for patients with specific risk factors, the known risks of the sudden discontinuation of treatment were higher than the potential risks posed by the degradation issue. The Patient Safety Alert advises that patients should continue using the affected machines unless advised otherwise by their patient care provider.We would encourage patients to report any evidence of foam degradation, for example black marks or residue in their devices, directly via MHRA’s yellow card scheme.

Genomics: Screening

Elliot Colburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the availability of genomic testing.

Andrew Stephenson: The National Genomic Test Directory defines which genomic tests must be delivered by the NHS Genomic Laboratory Hubs in England, as well as who is eligible for genomic testing. The directory currently covers testing for over 3,200 rare diseases and over 200 cancer clinical indications. NHS England regularly updates the directory, through a robust and evidence-based test evaluation process, to keep pace with scientific and technological advances, and to ensure that genomic testing is available for all patients for whom it would be of clinical benefit. Testing is available for all eligible patients across England.

Cabinet Office

Overseas Trade: Morocco

Alan Brown: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what value of goods was (a) imported from and (b) exported to the Kingdom of Morocco in (i) 2021, (ii) 2022 and (iii) 2023.

John Glen: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 1st February is attached.UK Statistics Authority (pdf, 113.0KB)

Civil Servants: Training

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which civil service training programmes include the spotting of microaggressions.

John Glen: There was a specific course on Microaggressions which was withdrawn from the prospectus in November 2022.There are not any other courses that include microaggressions as part of the course outline available as part of the cross Civil Service training catalogue. We do not hold details of any local procurement or bespoke commissions of courses, the relevant department would need to be contacted to confirm.